ATLANTA – Supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams are asking a federal judge to order elections officials to count rejected absentee and provisional ballots in the governor's race, and to move the deadline for certifying the election back by a day.

Abrams, 44, is trying to become the first Democrat elected governor in Georgia in 20 years, and the first black woman governor in the nation. Kemp, 55, is trying to keep the office in Republican hands.

Abrams' campaign and the Democratic Party of Georgia filed the lawsuit in federal court in Atlanta late Sunday.

They claim that more than 1,000 absentee ballots in Gwinnett County were "unlawfully rejected" for missing information. They're asking that those ballots be counted.

Georgia Secretary of State Robyn Crittenden issued a letter to county election officials on Monday afternoon instructing them to accept absentee ballots that are missing the voter's date of birth. Crittenden said officials can verify the voter's identity with their signature or other information provided on the ballot.

The lawsuit is also asking that provisional ballots from Georgians who were registered in one county but voted in another be counted.

And they want the judge to push the deadline by which all counties must certify their results back from Tuesday to Wednesday.

During the campaign, Abrams and her supporters accused Kemp, who as secretary of state was Georgia’s top election official, of trying to suppress the Democratic vote by removing voters from the state rolls.

Kemp’s office said it was investigating the state Democratic Party for what it called a "failed attempt to hack the state's voter registration system."

Both sides denounced a racist robocall targeting Abrams.

Abrams' campaign says it's not giving up until every legitimate vote is counted. Her supporters believe there are enough outstanding votes to force a recount or a runoff.

"I am fighting to make sure our democracy works for and represents everyone who has ever put their faith in it," Abrams said in a statement Saturday. "I am fighting for every Georgian who cast a ballot with the promise that their vote would count."

Lawyers for the Abrams campaign prevailed in a complaint filed last week that involved absentee ballots in Dougherty County.

The lawyers said delivery of ballots in the county was delayed in part by Hurricane Michael. A judge ruled Friday that the county must accept all absentee ballots received by Friday. The ruling was expected to impact a few dozen votes.

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Republican Brian Kemp resigned Thursday as Georgia's secretary of state, a day after his campaign said he's captured enough votes to become Georgia governor, even though his election rival is conceding nothing in one of the nation's marquee midterm races. (Nov. 8)
AP